Roger Reinson recognized Rick Campbell's voice right away on Sunday night and knew in a heartbeat what the phone call was about.

Shortly after Sunday's West semi-final in Calgary, Campbell was on the horn to Reinson to see if the 11-year CFL veteran was interested in coming out of retirement to replace injured Edmonton Eskimo long- snapper Taylor Inglis in the drive to the Grey Cup.

LAUGHED AT FIRST

"I had to laugh at first," said Reinson, who watched the game on TV.

"I actually then went out to the gym (after the call) and snapped a few balls."

Campbell -- one of the Esks' defensive coaches -- called again laterthat evening and it didn't take long for Reinson to agree to come north from his Calgary home.

So, when the Eskimos walk onto the practice field tomorrow afternoon, Reinson will be back with the same club that released him earlier in the year.

There are no guarantees for the 36-year-old Saskatchewan native.

"We are going to watch him and make sure that he is still Roger Reinson," said Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia. "The last thing you want to do is say 'Just come in here and the job is yours.' "

But if everything goes smoothly, Maciocia will have exactly what he wants.

"You are going to need an experienced guy, a guy that has done it before in a hostile environment with the winner taking it all," said Maciocia. "He has been in that environment before, he has three Grey Cup rings to his name."

Reinson's last championship came with the Eskimos in 2003.

A FOURTH RING?

He would like nothing more than to add a fourth ring to his collection by just working two games of the season.

"It's not too bad of a paycheque," said Reinson, who stands to earn almost $15,000 if the Eskimos win the Cup on Nov. 27 in Vancouver. "It's a nice thing to fall into a guy's lap."

The dire call went to Reinson after Inglis suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday night when battling with Stampeder Randy Chevrier on a punt return.

Although the Eskimo rookie hasn't had an MRI, he said yesterday he has a torn ACL ligament and lateral meniscus in one knee and will have surgery within a month.

"It is pretty disappointing to go down in the first (playoff) game and not get a chance to play in the West final or possibly the Grey Cup," said Inglis. "You don't think a long snapper can get hurt like this. But I am lucky because I got to play the first 21 games of the season."

Backup running back/receiver Mike Maurer replaced Inglis on Sunday and will do the same thing if Reinson can't deliver in practice this week.